Sewing apparatus for sewing in accordance with a pre-formed pattern



0st 31, 1967 5.. 53mm SEWING APPARATUS FOR SEWING IN AUG ORDANCE WITH A FEE-FORMED PATTERN 4 Shea'ts sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1965 Oct. 31, 19%? SEWING AP SEWING II? ACCORDANCE WITH A Pl'iE-FUI'ZMED PAIT 4 Sh aets Sheat 2 Filed July 2, 1965 Oct. 31, R937 L mg, 'iZEQQfiFfii SEWING APPARATUS FOR SEWING m ACCORDANCE WITH A FEE-FORMED PATTERN 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 2, 1965 Oct. 31, 1967 59mm 39349J 73fl SEWING APPARATUS FOR SEWING IN ACCORDANCE WITH A FEE-FORMED PATTERN Filed July 2, 1965 4 Sheets Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,349,731 SEWING APPARATUS FOR SEWING IN ACCORD- AN CE WITH A PRE-FORMED PATTERN Luigi Bono, Pavia, Italy, assignor t0 Necchi Societa per Azioni, Pavia, Italy Filed July 2, 1965, Ser. No. 469,996

Claims priority, application Italy, July 3, 1964, 90/64, Patent 741,601 Claims. (Cl. 112-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sewing machine for sewing an open pattern wherein the movement of a fabric holder frame past a sewing needle is determined by a follower which moves along a pattern-defining surface on a stationary pattern member, said machine including a means for automatically returning the follower, after the completion of a sewing cycle, from the end point to the starting point on said pattern member and, further comprising means whereby a fabric holder is automatically locked or released on said fabric holder frame in accordance with the beginning and termination of the sewing cycle, respectively.

This invention relates to improvements in a sewing apparatus which executes a so called open sewing pattern, that is: a pre-established pattern which provides that at least one edge of the work piece remains unsewn.

An apparatus of this type generally comprises a stationarily mounted sewing machine including a reciprocating sewing needle, and a movable fabric holding frame which carries the fabric under the needle in accordance with a pattern which constitutes the outline of a stationarily mounted pattern member.

Since the pattern is such that one edge of the fabric work piece remains unsewn, it necessarily follows that the sewing needle begins and terminates its sewing cycle at different positions relative to the fabric frame, said positions being spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the unsewn edge. It, therefore, results that the machine operator must manually return the fabric holding frame to its starting position relative to the sewing needle, after each sewing cycle is completed and before beginning a subsequent sewing cycle. Also, the operator must necessarily remove the completed fabric piece and replace it with a new piece.

Since the duration of the sewing cycle, for example in the sewing of collars, cuffs, pockets, etc., is very short because the machines operate at very high speed, it results that the manual return of the fabric frame to its starting position and the manual removal of the completed fabric piece from the frame consume a considerable percentage of the total cycle time.

It, is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide in a sewing apparatus of the type rherein disclosed, an improvement whereby the duration of the sewing cycle is reduced.

It is a further object to provide in said apparatus an improvement whereby the fabric carrying frame is automatically returned to its starting position by power means after the sewing needle has completed its sewing pattern.

It is a further object to provide in said apparatus the improvement whereby the completed fabric piece is automatically released from the fabric carrying frame and a new piece of fabric is easily and quickly attachable to said frame.

A possible solution to the problem of returning the fabric frame to its starting position is to provide the pattern member with an edge portion connecting the starting and end positions together, so that the pattern member itself would guide the fabric frame back to its starting position. This solution would, however, be complex and costly as concerns the operation of the various parts during the non-sewing period of the cycle.

On the other hand, since the return travel of the frame is along a rectilinear path, a solution is herein disclosed which is relatively simple, is realizable through minimum cost, and which results in an increased return speed of the frame without change in the rotational speed of the apparatus driving means.

The above mentioned objects and solution are realized through an arrangement which will be best understood from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, which is referred to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism for driving the fabric holding frame in accordance with the outline of the pattern member;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view showing the means whereby the fabric holding frame is guided from its end position to its starting position;

FIGURES 4 to 7 are detail views showing the mechanism whereby the movements of the fabric holding frame are correlated to the movements of the pattern following device and whereby the fabric holding clamp is detachably secured to the fabric holding frame.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a sewing machine 1 stationarily mounted on a table top 2 and drivingly connected to an electric motor 3 which is mounted below the table top. The sewing needle 4 reciprocates and thereby sews the fabric piece X which is stretched on fabric clamp 5 which in turn is securely mounted on the movable fabric frame F. Said frame is movable relative to the sewing needle in accordance with the outline of a profiled pattern member 19 which is station'arily supported below the table top 2 between and by the table support legs 2a and 2b. An arm 6 extends vertically through an opening 7 in the table top and rigidly connects the frame F to the first sliding follower means 8 which in turn is slidably mounted on the second follower means 9.

The first follower means 8 is comprised by a horizontal member 10 which extend perpendicular to the lengthwise dimension of the frame F. Said member 10 is slidably mounted between spaced rollers in the pairs of rollers 11 which in turn are stationarily positioned and rotatably mounted on the second follower means 9. Member 10 is also connected to one end of arm 12, the other end of which comprises roller 13 which rolls along the top edge of means 9.

The second follower means 9 is comprised by an open at both faces, rectangular member having a pair of rollers 15 rotatably mounted on opposite ends thereof. The rollers 15 ride on the spaced rails 16 which extend parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the frame F. It is, therefore, seen that movement of the first follower 8 between the rollers 11 carries the frame F in a first rectilinear direction, while movement of the second foilower 9 along the rails 16 carries the frame in a second rectilinear direction which is perpendicular to the first direction.

The sewing pattern which the needle 4 will make in the fabric X is determined by the outline which is formed on the pattern member 19 which consists of a pair of identical flat plates 23 and 24 of magnetic material which are in vertically aligned facing relationship. The plates 23 and 24 are vertically spaced apart by a plate 25 of nonmagnetic material and they are connected by an electromagnet 26 extending between each end of the magnetic plates. The magnetic plates comprise an edge profile 20 which is identical to the sewing pattern which it is desired to sew on the fabric piece X which is held on the fabric frame.

The pattern plate assembly, comprising elements 23 to 26, is stationarily mounted on a support platform 21 which in turn is mounted on the cross-bars 22 which extend parallel to the rails 16 and which are supported by and between the table legs 2a and 2b.

The follower means 8 and 9 will move in accordance with the outline 20 in the pattern plates. This is accomplished as follows:

A vertically extending shaft 18 is rotatably mounted on the means 8 in a fixed position relative thereto. A cylindrical end portion 38 of shaft 18 bridges across the pattern defining edges 20 in the respective magnetic plates 23 and 24 (see FIGURE 3). End portion 38 is of magnetic material and it abuts against the edges 20. Shaft 38 is rotatably driven by a motor reducer 17 which is carried by the first follower means 8. It therefore results that when shaft 18 i rotated by motor reducer 17, the shaft portion 38 rolls along the edges 20 and closely follows the outline of said edges. The linear movements of shaft 18, as it follows the edges 20, are in turn followed by the follower means 8 and 9, each of which follows the shaft 18 in a respective perpendicular direction. In other words, any movement of the shaft 18 in a direction parallel to the rails 16 is followed by means 9 while any movement of shaft 18 perpendicular to rails 16 is followed by means 8. It is seen, therefore, that the pattern defined by pattern edges 20 is exactly reproduced in the movements transmitted by means 8 and 9 to fabric frame F.

It will be seen in FIGURE 2 that the pattern edges 20 define an open outline; that is: an outline in the nature of a U, wherein the beginning and ending of the outline are located at opposite ends 32 and 33 of the pattern edge 20. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a means whereby the follower means 8 and 9 will be automatically returned from the terminal end portion 33 to the beginning end portion 32. This is accomplished by means of an L-shaped metal guide member 27 mounted on the pattern assembly 19, in parallel to the rails 16 and bridging the gap or space between the open ends 32 and 33 of the outline 20.

Guide member 27 is mounted on the pattern assembly by means of mounting pins 28 and 29 which respectively fit into openings in the brackets 30 and 31 which in turn are mounted on the ends of the upper magnetic plate 23.

A trapezoidal track or rail 35, constituted by a material having a high friction coefiicient, is provided on the vertical leg 34 of guide member 27. A wheel 36 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 18 so as to be rotatable therewith, and said wheel has a circumferential groove 37 which corresponds to the trapezoidal outline of the track 35. The diameter of the wheel 36 is larger than the diameter of shaft portion 38 so that shaft 18 will roll along track 35 at a higher linear velocity than it roll along pattern edge 20 although the rotational speed of shaft 18 remains unchanged. Further, wheel 36 is located axially above the pattern edges 20 so that there will not occur any interference between wheel 36 and edges 20.

The present invention also comprises the following means whereby the two follower means, 8 and 9, are locked together upon the completion of the sewing pattern and immediately before the two follower means begin their automatic return movement to the starting position.

An electromagnet 39 (FIGURE 2) is fixedly mounted below the table top 2. The movable core of thi magnet comprises a rigid extension 43 which is pivotably connected to one end of arm 42 which in turn radially extends in rigid manner from shaft 49. Shaft 40 is pivotally mounted in supports 41 which are securely mounted to the table structure. An arm 44 also extends radially from shaft 40 in rigid manner so that linear movements of the magnet core are transmitted to the arm 44.

A hollow cable sheath 48 is fixed at one end to bracket 49, which is fixedly mounted on the table structure. Cable sheath 48 extends through the interior of hollow member 10 (see FIGURE 4) and is fixedly mounted at its other end to housing 47 which forms a connection between the vertical and horizontal members, 6 and 10. Passing interiorly through the sheath 48 is a flexible cable 45 which is connected at one end to arm 44 and at it opposite end to one arm 46 of lever L which is pivotally mounted on the housing 47.

Lever L functions as a latch release means and comprises three rigidly related arms, 46, 57, and 73, all pivotable about the same pivot axis. Arm 73 passes through slot 74 in housing 47 and comprises a free end 75 which bears against the lower, inverted cone-shaped head 76 of push rod 77. Push rod 77 extends upwardly through a bore in body 79 and at its upper end rigidly carries a radial plate 80 from one end of which a pin 81 extends parallel to rod 77. A coil spring 78 surrounds an axial portion of rod 77 and bears against the back of the coneshaped head 76 to bias rod 77 in a downward direction. In this downwardly biased position of rod 77, the pin 81 passes through hole 82 in fabric clamp 5 and through the correspondingly aligned hole in the frame base 83 which is integral with body 79. Thereby, elements 77, 78, 81 serve to releaseably secure clamp 5 to body 79.

In this regard, it will be seen from FIGURES 2 and 7 that one end of the frame base 83 is formed with a shoulder 86 while the opposite end is formed with a groove 84, these being for the purpose of easily and quickly positioning the fabric clamp 5 properly in place on the frame member 83. With reference to FIGURE 7, the clamp 5 is simply slid from left to right until its right end abuts shoulder 86 and with pin 85, which protrudes from the bottom of clamp 5, sliding into the groove 84. In this position, the central holes 82 in the clamp 5 and base 83 will be aligned so that pin 81 may pass therethrough.

The other arm 57 of lever L has a pin 58 at its free end, said pin sliding in slot 59 formed in one free end of double-arm pivoted lever 60 which is pivoted at 61 on housing 47. The other free end of lever 60 has pin 62 rigidly protruding therefrom.

Within the hollow member 10 in the vicinity of body 47, there is rigidly positioned the ring 51 which serves as an abutment shoulder for one end of coil spring 52. The other end of spring 52 abuts against the cylinder 53 which axially slidable within the member 10. A pin 54 is integral with cylinder 53 and extends radially through an elongated slot 55 in the wall of member 10. The sliding movement of cylinder 53 within member 10 is, therefore, limited to the length of slot 55.

The cable sheath 48 extends axially through the respective internal openings of ring 51, spring 52 and opening 56 in cylinder 53. As is seen in FIGURE 2, the sheath and the cable have sufficient slack length to accommodate the maximum movements of the follower means 8 and 9.

The respective pairs of rollers 11, on which the member 1% slides, are rotatably mounted on support brackets 66 which in turn are fixedly mounted on the second follower means 9. With reference to FIGURE 5, it is seen that a latch member 64 is pivoted at 65 on one face of that bracket, 66, which is nearest the housing 47. A leaf spring 71 is secured at one end thereof on the opposite face of the same bracket 66 by means 72 while the free end of spring 71 presses downwardly against pin 69 which is rigid with latch 64 and which protrudes radially therefrom and through a vertically elongate slot 70 which is formed in the bracket 66. Latch 64 may, therefore, pivot about 65 only to the extent permitted by the length of slot 70, with spring 71 constantly biasing latch 64 downwards.

As will be seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, the free end 63 of latch 64 is formed with a downwardly projecting tooth having a rear locking edge 67 and a forward sliding edge 68. The purpose of the tooth locking edge 67 is to grip the pin 54 (FIGURE 6) and thereby lock cylinder 53 relative to bracket 66. In this condition, the follower means 8 is locked relative to follower means 9 excepting for the limited sliding movement which pin 54 may make from one end to the other of slot 55 against the bias of spring 52.

The apparatus also comprises three micro-switches 87, 88, and 89 (FIGURE 2) which are actuated by the shaft 18 of the motor-reducer 17. These switches are electrically connected through conventional means (not shown) with the respective electrical parts of the apparatus to operate same as described hereunder.

Micro-switch 87 is mounted on the pattern body 19 at a position which corresponds with the beginning of the sewing pattern. The function of this switch is to stop thhe motor-reducer 17 and thereby the rotation of shaft 18, after the shaft 18 has completed its automatic return movement, along track 35, from the end position on body 19 to the starting position.

Micro-switch 88 also is mounted on the pattern body 19, but at a position which corresponds with the end of the sewing pattern. The function of this switch is to reduce the rotational speed of motor 3 through an appropriate circuit (not shown), and thereby reduce the speed of the sewing machine after the sewing cycle has been completed.

Micro-switch 89 also is mounted on the pattern body 19 and immediately after switch 88 along the sewing pattern. The function of switch 89 is to energize the electromagnet 39.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows:

The machine operator first places a clamp 5, on which is stretched a piece of fabric X, onto the frame base 83, with pin 85 sliding into groove 84 and the edge of the clamp abutting shoulder 86. The operator then presses a push button, 90 (FIGURE 1), which, through appropriate circuitry, results in the following electrical reactions:

(a) motor-reducer 17 is energized and thereby shaft 18 begins to rotate;

(b) electromagnets 26 are energized thereby magnetizing themagnetic plates 23 and 24; and,

(c) electromagnet 39 is de-energized thereby releasing cable 45 and permitting spring 78 to lower rod 77 whereby pin 81 lock-s clamp on the frame base 83. As rod 77 is forced downward by spring 78, it pivots lever L clockwise (as seen in FIGURES 4 and 6). Arm 57 of lever L therefore acts through pin 58 to pivot lever 60 counterclockwise whereby pin 62 on the end of lever 60 will abut the bottom side of end 63 of latch 64 and push said latch upwardly against the bias of the leaf spring 71. This will cause the locking edge 67 of latch 64 to release the pin 54 whereby thefirst follower means 8 is completely free from the second follower means 9 and shaft 18 is now .free to follow the pattern edge 20 since it is no longer held against track 35, this being the condition which existed while gaged by edge 67 of the latch 64.

As soon as follower means 8 moves relative to follower means 9 (see FIGURE 5) latch 64 will again fall into the horizontal position under urging of leaf spring 71 since the pin 62 will no longer be in contact with end 63 of said latch.

The patternedge 20, near to its end point, is profiled so as to cause the first follower means to move while the second follower means 9 remains stationary. At this point, the movement of the first follower mean-s 8 is such that housing47 moves towards bracket 66, and it follows that pin 54 on cylinder 53 is thereby pushed against the sliding edge 68 of latch 64. This causes latch 64 to pivot upward ly against the bias of spring 71. This upward pivoting of latch 64 results in the projection 63 coming to rest on the pin 54 was lockingly enpin 62 of lever 60 which is at its counterclockwisemost position (since rod 77 is at its lowest position and lever arm 57 is therefore at its lowest position). With projection 63 resting on pin 62, the locking edge 67 cannot come down to grip the pin 54 on cylinder 53. When the sewing pattern is completed, that is, when shaft 18 reaches the position of microswitch 89, the electro-magnet 39 will be energized and the cable 45 will be pulled to the right ,(in FIGURE 4) whereby lever 60 will pivot clockwise and permit latch 64 to lower into locking position with pin 54.

Simultaneously with the energization of the electromagnet 39, the wheel 36 on shaft 18 strikes against the track 35 with some impact force which is the result of the fact that the shaft 18 is travelling in a direction perpendicular to the track 35 when the two meet. This impact force causes some flexing in the track 35 which, due to its elasticity, springs back to its original shape. This springing back of track 35, acts through wheel 36 and shaft 18 to displace member 10. This, however, does not aifect the pin 54 since the spring 52 absorbs the movement of member 10 without disturbing the pin 54 in its locking engagement with latch 64.

The latch 64 gripping the pin 54 serves to hold wheel 36 against track 35 during the whole return travel of the frame to the starting sewing position.

From what has previously been described, it is seen that energization of electromagnet 39, and consequent pivoting of ilever L counterclockwise, results in rod 77 being pushed upwardly against the 'bias of spring 78, thereby disengaging pin 81 from holes 82 and automatically releasing clamp 5 from frame F.

When another piece of fabric is placed on the frame P, if the clamp 5 is not properly positioned, the holes 82 will not align with each other and the pin 81 will not be able to go through them. Therefore, the rod 77 will not be able to fully lower under action of spring 78 and arm 57 will not be able to lift latch 64 out of locking engagement with pin 54 and, therefore, the follower means 8 and 9 will remain locked to each other and it will be impossible to execute the sewing cycle.

It is to be understood that the foregoing represents only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that all modifications and changes to the preferred embodiment are intended to be covered by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sewing machine for automatically sewing in accordance with a pre-formed pattern, comprising: a sewing needle and a clamp holding frame which is movable relative to the needle, a stationarily mounted pattern member having an open pattern profile, said profile being defined by starting and terminal portions which are spaced apart from each other, a follower device which is movable between said portions along said profile, said frame being carried by said follower device, a guide means extending between said profile portions across the space therebetween, and guide engaging means on said follower device, said follower device being movable between said profile portions and along said guide means, and wherein said guide means comprises a substantially rectilinear rail lying in a different plane than the plane in which lies said profile, said guide engaging means being a rotary wheel which engages said rail, and wherein said follower device includes a rotary shaft which is adapted to roll along said profile and thereby move said follower device along said profile, said wheel being rigidly mounted on said shaft, and wherein the diameter of said wheel exceeds that of said shaft whereby the linear velocity of said follower device along said rail exceeds its linear velocity along said profile for the same rotational speed of said shaft, and means to rotatively drive said shaft.

2. A sewing machine for automatically sewing in accordance with a pre-formed pattern, comprising: a sewing needle and a clamp holding frame which is movable relative to the needle, a stationarily mounted pattern member having an open pattern profile, said profile being defined by starting and terminal portions which are spaced apart from each other, a follower device which is movable between said portions along said profile, said frame being carried by said follower device, a guide means extending between said profile portions across the space therebetween, and guide engaging means on said follower device, said follower device being movable between said profile portions and along said guide means, and including a fabric holding clamp which is removably mountable on said clamp frame, and automatically actuable means for respectively locking and unlocking said clamp on said clamp frame when said follower device is at different ones of said profile portions.

3. A sewing machine for automatically sewing in accordance with a pre-formed pattern, comprising: a sewing needle and a clamp holding frame which is movable relative to the needle, a stationarily mounted pattern member having an open pattern profile, said profile being defined by starting and terminal portions which are spaced apart from each other, a follower device which is movable between said portions along said profile, said frame being carried by said follower device, a guide means extending between said profile portions across the space therebetween, and guide engaging means on said follower device, said follower device being movable between said profile portions and along said guide means, follower device comprising first and second follower means, said first means being movably mounted on said second means for movement in a first rectilinear direction, said second means being movably mounted on the frame of said machine for movement in a second rectilinear direction which is perpendicular to said first direction, and automatically actuable means to respectively lock and unlock said first and second follower means relative to each other when said follower device is at different ones of said profile portions.

4. The sewing machine of claim 3, including a fabric holding clamp which is removably mountable on said clamp frame, said automatically actuable means also serving to respectively lock and unlock said clam on said clamp frame when said follower device is at different ones of said profile portions.

5, The sewing machine of claim 3, wherein said automatically actuable means comprises a latch means for locking said first follower means relative to said second follower means, an electromagnet having a linearly movable core, means connecting said core to said latch means, an electrical switch means electrically connected to said electromagnet, said switch means being actuable by said follower device to alternately energize and de-energize said magnet in correspondence with the follower device being at different ones of said profile portions.

6. The sewing machine of claim 3, wherein said guide means comprises a substantially rectilinear rail and said guide engaging means comprises a rotary wheel which engages said rail, said follower device including a rotary shaft which is adapted to roll in contact along said pro file, said wheel being rigidly mounted on said shaft, said rail extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of said profile at the end point thereof and said rail being resiliently flexible in a direction transversely thereof, said automatically actuable means permitting limited movement of said first follower means in a direction perpendicular to said rail with said first and second follower means being locked together, a resilient means acting in opposition to the aforementioned movement of said first follower means.

7. The sewing machine of claim 5, said first follower means comprising an elongate hollow member mounted for sliding movement perpendicular to said second follower means, a first latch member slidably mounted within said elongate member and a second lat-ch member pivotably mounted on said second follower means, both said latch members being engageable with each other in order to lock said first and second follower means together, a coil spring mounted within said elongate member and resiliently urging said first latch member towards one end of said elongate member, a latch release member pivotably mounted at said one end of said elongate member and being cooperable with said second latch member to pivot the latter out of engagement with said first latch member, said electromagnet core being connected to said latch release means whereby movement of said core causes said latch release means to pivot about its pivot axis.

8. The sewing machine of claim 7, including a housing mounted at said one end of said elongate member, said clamp frame being mounted on said housing, a movable clamp holding means mounted in said housing, said latch release means cooperating with said clamp holding means to move same to a clamp release position in accordance with the energization of said electromagnet, means resiliently urging said clamp holding means to a clamp holding position,

9. The sewing machine of claim 7, including a flexible cable connected at one end thereof to said magnet core and at the other end thereof to said latch release means, said cable extending axially through said elongate member.

10. The sewing machine of claim 7, including an axial elongate slot in said elongate member and a lateral pin connected to said first latch member and extending outwardly through said slot, a ratchet tooth on said second latch member which is engageable with said pin to lock said first lat-ch member against axial movement in one direction, said elongate member being axially slidable relative to said second follower means only an extent equal to the length of said slot with said tooth and pin being lockingly engaged.

11. A sewing machine for automatically sewing stitches along a predetermined pattern, comprising: a sewing needle and a clamp holding frame which is movable relative to the needle, a pattern member having an open pattern profile defined by spaced apart starting and terminal end portions, an electromagnetic means for inducing a magnetic flux through said pattern member, a follower device including a motor driven rotatable follower member which is adapted to roll along said profile from said starting to said terminal end portions and is adapted to be held there against by said magnetic flux, said frame being carried by said follower device, a guide means extending between said end portions, guide engaging means on said rotatable member for engaging said guide means and moving therealong in a return movement from said terminal to said starting end ortion, an electrical system for controlling said follower device and comprising first and second electrical switch means actuable by said follower device, said first switch means acting to stop the rotation of said rotatable follower member upon same arriving at said starting end portion, said second switch means acting to reduce the rotational speed of said rotatable member upon same arriving at said terminal end portion, said follower device being comprised of a first movable component and a second component mounted on the first and movable therewith and relative thereto, a locking means for locking said components relative to each other, a second electromagnetic means for actuating said locking means, an electrical switch means actuable by said follower device and serving to actuate said second electromagnetic means substantially at the same time that the speed of the rotatable follower member is reduced whereby said components become locked relative to each other, a manually operable start switch serving to simultaneously start the rotation of said rotatable member and to reverse the actuation of said second electromagnetic means whereby said components become unlocked relative to each other.

12. The sewing machine of claim 11, whereinactuation of the hand-actuable switch also results in energization of said first electromagnetic means.

13. The sewing machine of claim 11, including a locking means for locking a fabric clamp on said clamp holder in correspondence to actuation of said manually operable switch and for releasing said clamp in correspondence to said follower components becoming locked relative to each other.

14. The sewing machine of claim 13, wherein the fabric clamp locking means is controlled by said second electromagnetic means.

15. The sewing machine of claim 11, wherein the respective aforementioned switch means which are actuable by said follower device comprises respective microswitches, one of which is positioned adjacent to the start- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,880,683 4/1959 Abel 112-2 3,001,489 9/1961 Bond et al. 112102 X 3,046,921 7/1962 Schwarzberger a--- 112-102 X 3,170,423 2/1965 Henebry 1122 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

I. R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SEWING MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEWING IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PRE-FORMED PATTERN, COMPRISING: A SEWING NEEDLE AND A CLAMP HOLDING FRAME WHICH IS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE NEEDLE, A STATIONARILY MOUNTED PATTERN MEMBER HAVING AN OPEN PATTERN PROFILE, SAID PROFILE BEING DEFINED BY STARTING AND TERMINAL PORTIONS WHICH ARE SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER, A FOLLOWER DEVICE WHICH IS MOVABLE BETWEEN SAID PORTIONS ALONG SAID PROFILE, SAID FRAME BEING CARRIED BY SAID FOLLOWER DEVICE, A GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PROFILE PORTIONS ACROSS THE SPACE THEREBETWEEN, AND GUIDE ENGAGING MEANS ON SAID FOLLOWER DEVICE, SAID FOLLOWER DEVICE BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN SAID PROFILE PORTIONS AND ALONG SAID GUIDE MEANS, AND WHEREIN SAID GUIDE MEANS COMPRISES A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR RAIL LYING IN A DIFFERENT PLANE THAN THE PLANE IN WHICH LIES SAID PROFILE, SAID GUIDE ENGAGING MEANS BEING A ROTARY WHEEL WHICH ENGAGES SAID RAIL, AND WHEREIN SAID FOLLOWER DEVICE INCLUDES A ROTARY SHAFT WHICH IS ADAPTED TO ROLL ALONG SAID PROFILE AND THEREBY MOVE SAID FOLLOWER DEVICE ALONG SAID PROFILE, SAID WHEEL BEING RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, AND WHEREIN THE DIAMETER OF SAID WHEEL EXCEEDS THAT OF SAID SHAFT WHEREBY THE LINEAR VELOCITY OF SAID FOLLOWER DEVICE ALONG SAID RAIL EXCEED ITS LINEAR VELOCITY ALONG SAID PROFILE FOR THE SAME ROTATIONAL SPEED OF SAID SHAFT, AND MEANS TO ROTATIVELY DRIVE SAID SHAFT. 